2022 Inducted into the New England LMSC Hall of Fame (Open Water/Long Distance)
USMS Active member 2008 to Present, who found his “lane” in ultramarathon open water swimming
2019 NE LMSC Frank Wuest Open Water Swimming Award – was established in honor of Frank Wuest to recognize outstanding contributions to open water and Masters Swimming in New England. This award is presented based on sportsmanship, mentorship, camaraderie, love of sport, hard work, event participation, promotion of swimming, and more.
Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming - 2014 English Channel – 21 Miles, 2015 Manhattan Island Circumnavigational Swim – 21 Miles, 2016 Catalina Channel Swim – 20 Miles. Bob was the 139th person to accomplish this, and New Hampshire’s first swimmer to earn this title.
Other long swims - Boston Light Swim, 3-time finisher, 2013 Swim Across the Sound, 15 Miles
After achieving the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimmer Bob has dedicated himself to “paying it forward” through knowledge sharing, and volunteering for the sport of open water swimming raising awareness for local non-profit organizations
Appreciated in the local triathlon/swim community as a mentor/coach who takes a special interest in swimmers of all ages who are less familiar with the open water, helping them gain confidence and sharing his expertise generously.
Hosts annual open water safety clinics for non-profits and local endurance teams (NAMI, Blue Ocean, Save the Indoor (Portsmouth, NH) Pool, SheCoast Multisport)
Mentors open water swimmers on their journey to becoming accomplished marathon and ultramarathon open water swim athletes
Open Water Administration
Race Director “Fall Open Water Classic,” Hampton Beach 2022 (new event!) to benefit Blue Ocean Society
Co-Organizer Garbage Swim 2021 to benefit Blue Ocean Society
Race Co-Director (since 2018) Nubble Light Swim, York ME, in support of NAMI, and the Michael Phelps Foundation
Director Kingston Open Water Swim, Kingston NH, 2017, open water swim designed for local youth swim teams (returning in 2023)
USMS OW Race Official & USMS OW Safety Official, Kingdom Swim Festival, multiple years,
Marathon Swim Federation OW Observer
MOWSA OW Observer
Frequent volunteer crew and safety support at Boston Light and Kingdom Swim events
Board of Directors, Save the Indoor Pool (SIPP)
2017 PiscataquaTEDx Series Speaker, “Facing fears in open water swimming”
2017 NH Film Festival Documentary, “An Allegedly Good Swimmer”
USMS Top Ten Achievements – 4 relay
USMS Certified Coach – Level 1 & 2
USMS Profile Bob Fernald - USMS Swimmer
Bob Fernald is an open water swimmer who lives in New Hampshire a state with just about 20 miles of coastline. Bob was always fond of the ocean growing up but always had a healthy fear and respect for it as well.
Open water swimming came as a discovery in an “adult on-set” kind of way. Like a common group of wanna-be athletes, Bob was bullied into triathlons by “friends.” Initially hating the swim, and completing, only a handful of short tris, he found open water swimming after several years of absence from the water.
Self coached, he found the elusive efficient body position in the water through his pilates practice. And so began the journey of his open swimming, and a change in life focus.
The journey is ongoing. His mission….to share the joy of open water swimming with the world. “If I could take what I learned and put it in a bottle, I would give it away.”